Automobile bumper



Patented Dec. 26, 1922.

UNITED- srn'res 1,440,081 'PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. HUTCIIIINGS, OF BROUKLYN. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HUTCHINGS MANUFACTURING CO., INCJ, F NEW YDRK, N. Y., A CORPORATIN OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Application filed Detooer 11, 1922. Serial No. 598354..

T o all whom it may confer/"n:

Be it known that I. Fnrornrox E. HU'roH- mes, a citizen lof the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto mobile Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in aultomobile bumpers, and relates particularly o the means for supporting the umper bar -iand connectin it to the chassis or other part of the ve iele. ln its preferred construction the invention is intended for use with that type of car in which there are no frame parts projecting! forwardly beyond the radiator,

' One of the main objects of my invention to provide a form of support which includes members similar in appearance to the front projecting chassis parts employed l' in most types of automobiles.

A further object is to provide a construction oi' splash an and support therefor.

25 A further oiject is to provide means whereby the bumper bar itself may move bodily rearwardly in case of collision. such movement being resisted by a yielding member independent of the bumper har, and 39 connected to the vehicle by the same brach 'fiets or attaching parts which carry the Abumper bar.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be apparent t5 from a consideration of the preferred cmhodiment illustrated in the accfnnpanyinny dra wings. ln these drawings:

Fie". 1 is a top plan view. a portion being broken away.

Fig, 2 is a side elevation on a somewhat larger scale.

A Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on thc lines 4-4 and 5 5 respectively oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing;r a slight modification, and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the center portion of the splash pan.

The form illustrated is particularly adaptA ed for a Ford car in which the side members l0 of the chassis do not project forward beyond the radiator 11. In the construction illustrated I provide a pair of bars er brackets 12 which are adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of the automobile frame, and include downwardly curved front portions corresponding in general appearance to the front portions of the chassis frame of most other types of cars, These bars or brackets 12 may be Secured to the frame in any suitable manner. As illustrated, each bar has a lug or flange e portion 13 set at an angle, and adapted to lie beneath the fender and lamp bracket. 14

of the car, and adapted to be secured to the latter by a U-bolt 15. The rear end por tions of the bars or brackets l2 may 'be secured by means ofa hook bolt 16. lf desired,

both the hook-bolt and the flange portion 13 may be omitted and the bars directl secured to the frame b bolts 17. The ront portion of the bars 2 may vary in cross-. section, but are illustrated particularly in Fig` 5 as including side and top iiange p0rtions, and as substantially L-shape. in cross section.

To the front end of each bar 12 is piv otally secured a lever 18 preferably extendimgr in an inclined position with its upper end in advance, and adapted to swing in a vertical plane. The upper ends of the two levers 18 are connected to and serve to support the bumper har 15). 1 do not wish to be limited to 4any particular type or conv struction ot' bumper bar, as the bar itself may vary widely within the scope of my invention.

lai-h lever 1H is connected at its lower rear` end to a tension spring; 20 which pulls rearwardly on the lower end of the lever. and holds' the upper end of the leverand the bumper bar in the maximum or limiting fol' ward position. The limit oi' swing maybe y determined by a pair oi' abutting shoulder 95 portionsI 2l and 22 on the bar 12 and the lever 1H. The spring 20 at its rear end is connected to the har 12 so that in attaching my improved device to an automobile it is merely necessary to hold the two bars in position without attaching any other memhers to other parts oi' the vehicle. There is also preferably provided means whereby the tension of the springs may he adjusted at will. As shown in Fin. 2 a bell crank lever 22% is pivoted to each bar 12. and the lower or de ending end is connected to the spring :20. `he forwardly extending end is provided with an adjusting screw 24 adapted to abut against the under side of the horilll zontal flange portion of the bar 12. so that by turning the .screw the bell crank level' may be rotated to increase or decrease the tension of the spring.

ln ["igJl l have shown l'orm in which the bar l2 has an integral dependinf,r stud or projection 23d through which extends a hook 25 provided with a threaded shank. By rotating the nut 24 the tension of the spriiw 2U may be increased or decreased at Wi For holding the front ends of the two bars rigid in respect to each other there is provided a tie-rod 2G which also serves as the pivot, rod for the levers 1S. llncircling the tie-rod is a tube ZT and on the outer ends of the tie-rod are nuts 2H. The bar l2 and the lever 1H are clamped between the end of the tube and the nut. 'To permit the free swinging ot the lever there are preferably em` ployed washers 29 on each side of the lever so that the desired amount of friction or pressure can be applied. and to form a face for the washer nearest to the end of the tube 2T. the latter is provided with a plug 3U havinga reduced portion titting within the tube, and a shoulder abutting against the end of the latter. This plug also holds the tube concentric with the tierod.

The bars l1! are employed not only to support the bumper carrying levers 18 and the tension springs for theI latter. but also serve to support a splash pan somewhat similar in general appearance to that commonly em. ployed with many types of automobiles having forwardly projecting chassis frames or spring horns. This is illustrated as including a substantially vertical sheet metal wall 3l and forwardly extending walls 32. the latter lying along the inner sides of the ha rs l2 and supported by the latter` rl`o t'orm a frame and rigid support. and at the same time to cover and partially conceal the bars l2. the side walls 32 are shown as having flanges 33 extendingacross the upper Surface of the bars. and depending at their outer edges to engage beneath ridges or shoulders 34 on the bars l2. Preferably these outer depending edges are reinforced by stitfening wires 35 around which the sheet metal is folded as shown particularly in Fig. 'l`o hold these sheet metal walls rigidly in position. without necessitatin; r the employment of bolts or other attaching means. the front; ends of the wires 35 may be curved around the outer ends of the tiebolts and locked in place by the nuts 28. To facilitate proper adjustment and to draw the two side walls Il. toward each other and hold the reinforcing edges in position. the front wall 31 ma v be made of two sections overlapping at theceuter. and the 1 inforcing wire may also he iliade of two sccoons connected by a coupling 36 having right and left hand threaded connections with the sections ot' the wire so a slightly modified that they may be drawn toward each other. 'l`bc two sections ot' the wall 3l may be Slotted to leave an aperture for the engine crank 3T. as -shown particularly in Fig. 7.

ln my improved construction it will be, noted that the only parts which are directly bolted to or attached to the vehicle itself are the two bars or brackets 1Q, and that these may be very quickly and easily Secured by. the properly positioned bolts. These bars or brackets l2 carry not only the bumper bar Asupporting levers 1H. but the connectin nie-.ins for the springs 2U and the side amil front wall portions ot the splash pan. The springs 2() are protected beneath the brackets 152. and are partially concealed from view b the latter and by the side walls of the splash pan.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, A bumper including a pair of brackets adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle frame, a pair of levers pivotally secured one to each bracket. and mounted to swing in parallel vertical planes, a bum )er bar securcd to the upper front ends o the levers, and lsprings connecting the lower rear ends of the levers to the under portions of Said brackets.

2. A bumper. including;r a pair of bars adapted to be secured to the side members of a vehicle frame and to project forwardly and downwardly therefrom in substantially parallel planes. a tie-rod connecting,r the front ends of said bars. a pair of lererspivotally secured to said bars at the front ends ot' `the latter. and mounted to swing in parallel vertical planes. a bumper har carried by the front upper ends of said levers, a, depending 1projection carried by each bar of said pair. and a coil spring connecting each projection to the lower rear end of its corresponding lever.

3. A bumper, including a pair of bars adapted to be secured to the side members of a vehicle t'rarne and to project forwardly and downwardly therefrom in substantially parallel planes. a tie-rod connecting the front ends of said bars. a pair of levers pivotally secured to said bars at the front ends ofthe latter. and mounted to swing in parallel vertical planes. a bumper bar carried by the t'ront upper ends of said levers, a pro- -icction carried by cach har of said pair, a. coil spring connecting each projection to the lower rear end of its corresponding lever. and means for adjusting the tension of the spring.

ll. bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of a vehicle frame and having forwardly and downwardly cnrv'ed portions, a. lever pivotally connected to the front 3nd of ear-h of said hars. a coil sprintT connecting the lower end of each lever to' the underI rear portion of its corresponding bar, and a sheet metal plate carried by each bar and depending therefrom along the inner surface thereof.

5. A bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of a vehicle frame and having forwardly anddownwardly curved portions, a lever Jivotally connected to the front end of each of said bars, yielding means engaging the lower ends of saidv levers for resisting swinging movement of the latter. and a splash pan including a transversely eX- tending substantially vertical wall portion the latter lying along the inner sides of said bars and supported by said bars.

A bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of a vehicle frame and having for` wardly and downwardly curved portions, a lever pivotall connected to the front end of each of said ars, yielding means engaging the lower ends of said levers for resisting swinging movement of the latten` and depending sheet metal Wall portions secured to said bals and partially concealing `said yielding means. i

7. A bumper including a pair ot' bars adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of a vehicle frame and having forwardly and downwardly curved portions, a lever pivotally connected to the front end of each of said bars, yielding means en f gaging the lower ends of said levers for resisting swinging movement of the latter'` and a sheet metal splash pan having a transverse substantially vertical portion between said bars and forwardly extending substantially vertical portions adjacent to the i'nner sides of said bars, the upper edges of said last mentioned portions extending across the upper sides of said bars.

8. A vehicle bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be ri idly secured to the side members of the f-iaxne of the vehicle, and having forwardly and downwardly extending front bars, a bumper bar, means for supporting the latter from the front ortions of said bars, and a splash pan -inc uding a substantially vertical portion extending transversely between said bars, and substantially vertical forwardly extendin portions along the sides of said bars an sup ported by the latter.

9. A vehicle bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be rigidly secured to the side members of the frame of the vehicle, and having forwardly and downwardly extending front bars, a bumper bar, means for supporting the latter from the frontportions of said bars, a splash pan including a substantially vertical portion extending transversely between said bars, and substantially vertical forwardly extending portions along the sides of said bars and supported by the latter, said forwardly' extending por tions having reinforced edges engaging with the outer sides of the bars.

10. A vehicle bumper, including a pair of bars 'adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle, a bumper bar carried bysaid bars at the front ends of the latter, and a splash `pan also carried by said lbars and including depending wall portions along the inner sides of tlie bars and a transverse wall portion between said bars.

11. A bumper including a pair of bars adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame and proy'eet forwardly therefrom in substantial y parallel planes, a tie rod connecting the front ends of said bars, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said tie rod adjacent to said bars, a bumper bar carried by the upper ends of said levers and springs connecting the lower ends of s aid levers to the under portion of said first mentioned bars.

12, A bumper including a air of bars adapted to be secured to a vehic e frame and proJect forwardly therefrom in substantially parallel planes, a tie rod connecting the front ends of said bars, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said tie rod, a bumper bar carried by the upper ends of said levers, friction means for resisting swinging movement of said levers in respect to said first mentioned parts, and separate yielding means engaging with said levers for resisting swin ing movement of the latter.

Sign at New York in the county of New York and State of lTew York, this 9th rday of October, A. D. 1922.

FREDERICK aHUTcHINGs. 

